This is a photograph of Arthur Valentine, creator of the Valentine Diner. Valentine Diners were manufactured in Wichita, Kansas and were constructed as eight-to-ten-seat restaurants that one or two people could operate. In an industry where nearly all major diner manufacturers were on the East Coast, the Kansas company managed to ship its pre-fabricated structures across the country. Valentines could be found along major highways to attract travelers, in industrial areas to attract workers, and in small towns where they might be one of the only restaurants available. Today many Valentine diners are still open across the country.

Kansas Memory

Kansas Historical Society

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This is a photograph of Arthur Valentine, creator of the Valentine Diner. Valentine Diners were manufactured in Wichita, Kansas and were constructed as eight-to-ten-seat restaurants that one or two people could operate. In an industry where nearly all major diner manufacturers were on the East Coast, the Kansas company managed to ship its pre-fabricated structures across the country. Valentines could be found along major highways to attract travelers, in industrial areas to attract workers, and in small towns where they might be one of the only restaurants available. Today many Valentine diners are still open across the country.